{"title":"How to Knit Socks","canonicalUrl":"https://www.craftingstepbystep.com/knitting/how-to-knit-socks","category":{"slug":"knitting","name":"Knitting"},"creator":{"name":"PleasantSeas","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpCVufCBuS4O8ml0D-I7G3w","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngR0owEgEAc"},"tldr":"Knit a basic ankle sock on double pointed needles in 10 photo steps: cuff, heel flap, heel turn, gusset and toe, with sizes and gauge.","totalDurationSeconds":1193,"difficulty":"medium","tools":["double pointed knitting needle set","knitting stitch markers","blunt tapestry needle","scissors","sock blockers"],"materials":["self-patterning sock yarn"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Cast On 42 Stitches Across Three Double Pointed Needles","text":"Cast on 42 stitches and divide them evenly, 14 on each of three double pointed needles. Lay the needles in a triangle and check that the cast-on edge runs round the inside without twisting before you join. A twist here spirals down the whole sock and cannot be fixed."},{"number":2,"title":"Knit the Ribbed Sock Cuff in the Round","text":"Place a stitch marker to mark the start of the round and work knit one, purl one all the way round. Repeat for 7 rounds. That is a short ankle cuff; for a crew sock, keep going to an inch and a half or two inches."},{"number":3,"title":"Work the Heel Flap Back and Forth on Half the Stitches","text":"Knit across 21 stitches, then leave the other 21 resting on a needle for the top of the foot. Turn and work only the heel stitches back and forth: slip the first stitch purlwise, purl across, turn, slip the first stitch, knit across. Repeat until the flap is square, about as long as it is wide."},{"number":4,"title":"Turn the Heel With Short Rows","text":"The heel turn uses decreases to cup the bottom of the flap. Knit 14, slip slip knit, turn. Slip one, purl 7, purl two together, turn. Slip one, knit 7, slip slip knit, turn. Keep working one stitch further each time, closing the gap with a decrease, until every heel stitch has been used."},{"number":5,"title":"Pick Up the Gusset Stitches Along the Heel Flap","text":"Knit across the remaining heel stitches, then pick up and knit one stitch in each slipped chain loop down the side of the flap, 12 in all. Knit across the 21 instep stitches, then pick up 12 more up the other side. You are back to knitting in the round, with extra stitches at each side of the heel."},{"number":6,"title":"Decrease the Gusset to Shape the Sock Instep","text":"On the next round, knit to three stitches before the instep, knit two together, knit one. Knit across the instep. At the start of the other side, knit one, slip slip knit, and knit to the end. Knit one plain round. Repeat those two rounds until you are back to 42 stitches."},{"number":7,"title":"Knit the Foot of the Sock in Plain Rounds","text":"Now it is just knitting. Work every round plain until the foot measures about 7 inches from the back of the heel, or two inches less than the full length of the wearer's foot. Try it on as you go if you are knitting for yourself."},{"number":8,"title":"Decrease for the Toe of the Sock","text":"Knit one plain round. On the next, decrease at both sides of the foot: knit two together and knit one before each side edge, knit one and slip slip knit after it. Alternate decrease rounds with plain rounds four times, then work decrease rounds only until 10 stitches remain."},{"number":9,"title":"Draw the Toe Closed and Weave In the Yarn Tail","text":"Cut the yarn with a long tail and thread it on a tapestry needle. Pass it through all 10 live stitches, slip them off the needles, and pull tight to gather the toe. Take the tail to the inside and weave it in along the purl bumps."},{"number":10,"title":"Try On the Finished Knit Ankle Socks","text":"Put it on. The heel should sit snug on the back of your foot and the cuff should hold without sliding down. Then cast on the second one straight away, using the same counts, so the pair matches."}],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-09-22T21:07:23.199Z","published":"2026-09-22T21:07:16.275Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}